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All-Stars Behind the Bar

If you’re wondering where your favorite bartender has disappeared to this weekend, check the Astor Center in the East Village.

On Oct. 3 and 4, the Manhattan Cocktail Classic — which will hold its first full-fledged convention in May — will have a “preview” event at Astor Center on Lafayette Street. The organization’s director, Lesley Townsend, has staffed the event’s “official bar” with more than 80 bartenders and mixologists. Each will take cameo shifts making drinks.

Among those stepping behind the bar are the proprietors of some of New York’s most popular cocktail dens, including Julie Reiner of Brooklyn’s Clover Club; Jim Meehan of the East Village’s PDT; Richard Boccato, co-owner of the new Long Island City bar Dutch Kills; and Phil Ward, owner of the new tequila-oriented cocktail bar Mayahuel, also in the East Village. Other guest bartenders include: Brian Miller, Alex Day and Joachim Simo, all of Death & Co., in the East Village; Giuseppe Gonzalez of Dutch Kills; Don Lee, the beverage director of Momofuku; Jeremy Thompson of The Raines Law Room in the Flatiron District; and Michael Madrusan of Little Branch in the West Village. There’s also a chance that members of the event’s founding advisory board — which includes the Pegu Club owner Audrey Saunders, and Milk & Honey’s Sasha Petraske — will mix a libation or two.

Though the Manhattan Cocktail Classic previously has been touted as a celebration of New York talent, the convention has been enough of a magnet to attract bartenders from as far as California and London. At least four mixologists from San Francisco are expected, as well as representatives from the Los Angeles bar The Varnish, Boston’s Drink, and New Orleans’s Cure. One barman, Angus Winchester, is flying in from London. All the bartenders are volunteering their help.

“I knew, given the level of talent involved at the advisory board level, that we’d manage to wrangle a decent bunch of folks to guest bartend at the official bar,” said Ms. Townsend, “but I truly had no idea we’d get this sort of turn-out. I’m honestly just overwhelmed.”

According to Ms. Townsend, four to five bartenders will be on duty for each one-hour shift. There will be a set drink menu, which will change each day. (Sorry, no show-off requests for a Zombie or Ramos Gin Fizz.)

Complimentary entrance to the bar, plus one drink ticket, will be granted anyone who purchases a ticket to one of the educational sessions. An a la carte entrance to the bar plus two drink tickets costs $25; extra drink tickets are $10 each.

The official bar is open from 11:30 AM to 7:30 PM at the Astor Center, 399 Lafayette Street (East Fourth Street).